Exploring Sense of Coherence among Patients with Palliative Care Needs: A Qualitative Study

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Page: 564-572

Jashobanta Mahapatra¹, Neha Nanda², Sumita Mohanty³, and Prasanta Kumar Sethi⁴ (Department of Clinical Psychology, Mental Health Institute (CoE), S.C.B. Medical College & Hospital, Cuttack, Odisha¹,²,⁴ and
Department of Anaesthesiology and Palliative Care Unit, Acharya Harihar Post Graduate Institute of Cancer, Cuttack, Odisha³)

Sense of Coherence (SOC), which includes comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness, is a key health resource that fosters resilience and a positive health outlook. This study aimed to explore in-depth the meaning of SOC through a phenomenological approach conducted on 7 patients who were diagnosed with various types of cancer. Patients who obtained more than the median score of 52 on the SOC-13 questionnaire were chosen and approached for semi-structured interviews. Seven overarching themes emerged which are Preliminary Challenges, Acquired Knowledge, Social support, Psychological Assets, Religious Beliefs, Sublimation and Development of Insight. “Preliminary challenges” stood as a precursor to the development of SOC. Religious Beliefs and Development of Insight contributed effectively to the “Meaningfulness” component of SOC. Social support and sublimation contributed to the “Manageability” component and Acquired Knowledge and Psychological Assets to the “Comprehensibility” component of SOC. Themes were interrelated and together contributed effectively to the three components of SOC. All these themes increase the SOC of patients with palliative care needs and can be used to rehabilitate other life-long conditions.